OUR PROGRAMS
PROUD SUPPORTERS OF MAYOR
JOHN WHITMIRE
Ramon Curry, Brother of the Founder
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25 years ago, I found myself at the Barry Telford unit in Texarkana, Texas, unaware of the dangers that lurked within its walls – beatings, killings, and staff-on-inmate assaults. It took a couple of years before the veil of secrecy surrounding the violence at this prison was lifted.
At the age of 22, having been transferred from the minimum-security Hightower unit in Dayton, Texas, where I had clashed with an abusive officer named George Gorman, I found myself on the infamous Telford unit, also known as "Terrible Telford."
Upon my arrival, the prison bus was met by Warden Massengill and his guards. Warden Massengill pulled me aside, referencing Lt. Massengill at the Hightower and expressing his intent to break my spirit. The officers were determined to dehumanize and break the spirit of every individual under their watch.
On May 16th, 1998, having filed numerous grievances about inhumane conditions, I became the target of the officers' wrath. They intended to teach me a lesson, possibly resorting to the same brutal tactics they had used on another Muslim brother. However, on this day, four courageous individuals – George Jarvis, Andrew Jones, Bruce Crayton, and Marcus Hood – came to my aid, preventing a potentially devastating outcome.
Despite their intervention, my life took a turn for the worse. I was confined to administrative segregation – 23 hours a day lockdown, denied basic necessities like food, showers, and outdoor time. The threat of harm loomed, with officers warning that coming out of the cell would be perilous.
Desperate for help, I reached out to newspapers, council members, and anyone who might listen. Only when I contacted Senator John Whitmire's offices did I receive a response. When the officers came for me, I initially resisted, fearing the repercussions I had been warned about. However, a female officer named Rush assured me that Major Melvin had sent her, offering a glimmer of hope.
Taken to Internal Affairs, I discovered they had a copy of the letter I sent to Senator Whitmire. While I cannot confirm the fate of the officers or the existence of an official record, I do know that I was eventually transferred off the unit and released from segregation.
Today provides the opportunity to express gratitude to Mayor Whitmire, former Senator Whitmire who stepped in and saved my life.
There were many like many that were not as fortunate as me. They reached out but their cries landed on deaf ears and they died in a Texas prison.
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